Fire Station No. 2 groundbreaking ahead

No. 9's relocation still in the works.

No. 9's relocation still in the works.

March 06, 2006|JAMIE LOO Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- At least one new fire station is set to break ground in May if all goes according to schedule, according to South Bend Fire Chief Luther Taylor. But the second station project, Fire Station No. 9, could take a little longer. MPA Architects released a design of the new Fire Station No. 2 in November, and Taylor said officials are now working on bid documents for the estimated $1.7 million project. The new station will be built on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive between Lincoln Way West and Chapin Street. Construction on the new station is expected to begin in late May and to be completed in July 2007. Luther said he was hoping construction for Fire Station No. 2 and Fire Station No. 9 could take place at the same time. But he is still working with Mayor Stephen Luecke on finding a suitable site for the second new station. Fire Station No. 9 is currently on Mishawaka Avenue. The small station needs to expand and is too close to the Mishawaka border, Taylor said. In its current location, the station doesn't cover enough area in the city limits, he said. An ideal spot for Fire Station No. 9 would be somewhere near Adams High School, Taylor said. The area around Indiana University South Bend also has been discussed. Last spring, there was talk of tearing down the greenhouses near Potawatomi Zoo to build the fire station. But Taylor said that depends on what the city decides to do with the greenhouses. "I think that is one of the sites that could be considered if it becomes available," Taylor said.Staff writer Jamie Loo: jloo@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6337